Continuous casting



June 1961 H. RUSTEMEYER ET AL 2,988,790

CONTINUOUS CASTING 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 11, 1958 INVENTOQS June 20, 1961 H. RUSTEMEYER ETAL 2,988,790

CONTINUOUS CASTING Filed June 11, 195 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN 70/96 H.3usiemqsyer 1160211212 LCZGI" J1me 1961 H. RUSTEMEYER ET AL 2,988,790

CONTINUOUS CASTING Filed June 11, 1958 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 I miny u 5 I L 1:

INVENTO/FG .HB uateme yer Schne mien 5r June 20, 1961 H. RUSTEMEYER ET AL 8,790

CONTINUOUS CASTING 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 11, 1958 INVENTOPS HJicwtem jigfichne 8 781 alder June 20, 1961 H. RUSTEMEYER ET AL 2,988,790

CONTINUOUS CASTING Filed June 11, 1958 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENIDBS H. Hus temey er fi.6(31212 Later June 1961 H. RUSTEMEYER ETAL 2,988,790

CONTINUOUS CASTING Filed June 11, 1958 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 F/G. 9a

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I CONTINUOUS CASTING Filed June 11, 1958 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG. 12

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CONTINUOUS CASTING Filed June 11, 1958 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 3m m r we finWL E km 1 v Y\ J m June 1961 H. RUSTEMEYER ETAL 2,988,790

CONTINUOUS CASTING 1O Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed June 11, 1958 lM E/vm/Ps JiRu-S teme yer B 6622126 o'cier' 4 T7 Yei 2,988,790 CONTINUOUS CASTING Hans Rustemeyer and Ralf Schneider, Dusseldorf, Germany, assignors to Schloemann Aktiengesellschaft, Dusseldorf, Germany Filed June 11, 1958, Ser. No. 741,297 Claims priority, application Germany June 19, 1957 7 Claims. (Cl. 22-572) The castings produced in vertical continuous casting plants are as a rule divided into sections during their movement by means of suitable severing appliances, such as cutting burners, saws or shears. These sections of casting then have to be removed from the continuous casting plant for further treatment.

The simplest means for removing the sections of casting consist of a resilient but otherwise stationarily supported catch-plate, on to which the severed section of casting falls. The catch-plate is here obliquely positioned, so that the casting section. tilts sideways, so as to pass on to a conveying device, for instance a hoist, which brings the casting section on to the foundry floor, and then transfers it to a further conveyor.

Moreover appliances are known which receive the sections of casting in a cup-like receptacle that can be raised and lowered, and also tilted. For the reception of a casting section the receptacle is raised to a height at which its bottom is somewhat. lower than the head of the continuous casting at the moment of complete separation of the-casting section. As soon as the separation of the casting section from the continuous casting is completed, the casting section falls into the receptacle, which then sinks, at a speed exceeding the speed of issue of the continuous casting, into its lowest position, in which it is then tilted.

The last-named appliance is in particular provided when sections of casting of different lengths are to be produced, in order that by adjusting the receptacle to a definite height, the height of fall of the section of casting can be kept small, and that in this way deformations of the section of casting may be as far as possible avoided. Even nited States Patent I 2,988,790 Patented June 29, 1961 casting after the tilting of the frame. The employment, of a separate shoe, transportable upon the frame, has the advantage that'the appliance is structurally simple, since the bearing for the tiltable frame can be stationarily arranged. Furthermore the shoe, the mass of which is but small, can be transported easily and accurately, so that the section of casting can be caught practically without shock. This is also of importance with respect to the severing means, in order that in the case of a saw for example as the severing means the saw-blade may not be nipped, or, in the case of a gas-cutting device as the severing means, the cut gap may not be closed by pressure.

The object of the present invention is therefore to catch the casting severed from a vertical continuous casting plant without shock and convey it away.

A further object of the invention is to provide an appliance suitable for this purpose, which solves the said problem as automatically as possible without intervention on the part of the operating staff. It is however also an object of the invention so to construct the said automatically acting device that it can be conrolled by hand.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the apparatus that with its help sections of predetermined but different lengths are severed, caught without shock, and carried away.

Yet a further object of the invention is so to connect the means for catching and removing the severed sections this last-named appliance, however, does not take over -the casting section without shock, since the casting section falls into the receptacle.

This invention starts from the discovery that the dropping of the section of casting may bring about not merely a deformation of the section of casting but also an injury to its texture, since owing to the blow which the casting section experiences whenit is placed upon the appliance for its removal, disturbances of crystallisation occur, which under some circumstances may even lead to the bursting of the casting section. In order to obviate these disturbances, according to this invention vertical continuous casting plants are operated with a receiving appliance for removing the sections of casting produced in such a way that the receiving appliance, before'the sepa ration of the casting section from the continuous casting is effected, is brought into supporting contact with the continuous casting, and is then lowered, together with the latter, at first with the speed of the casting, and, after the severing cut has been aifected, with a greater speed.

For carrying out this method of working, the receiving appliance, which can be raised and lowered, and (if need be) tilted, is according to the invention movable downwards with the speed of the issuing casting, together with the latter, and, as usual, downwards and upwards at a higher speed.

According to a further feature of the invention there is provided as a receiving device a tilting 'frame known in itself, which is constructed as a section of a live-roller bed, and upon which is transportably arranged a shoe supporting the casting and pushing away the section of of casting with the device for cutting ofi the sections of casting that the two operations are automatically affected in time-relationship to one another.

Yet another object of the invention is to construct the device for cutting off the sections of casting in a particularly advantageous manner.

A still further object of the invention is to construct the whole of the apparatus mentioned reliably, that is to say, in such a way that there will be no risk to the operating staff, and that no disturbances of the apparatus itself can occur.

Moreover the apparatus according to the invention must work accurately, that is to say, it must sever from the continuous casting sections of exactly equal length, corresponding to the existing adjustment.

Finally the invention is to be simple to construct, and to be as cheap as possible both in construction and in operation.

Further details of the invention are hereinafter described with reference to an example of construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows the tiltable frame, with the transportable shoe located upon it, in side elevation;

FIGURE 2 shows the same in section on the line A-B in FIGUE 1; and

FIGURE 3 shows the same in section on the line 0-D in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 shows a detail in plan;

FIGURE 5 shows in section on a larger scale a portion of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 shows diagrammatically the plant as a whole in side levation;

FIGURE 6a shows, as a detail of FIGURE 6, a difierential copying mechanism in section on the line EF in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 7 shows diagrammatically the entire plant in another side view;

FIGURE 8 shows diagrammatically in section a plan view of the entire plant, with the frame tilted into a horizontal position, and details;

FIGURE 9a shows an adjustable clutch in axial section;

FIGURE 9b shows the same clutch in plan, partly in section;

FIGURE 10 shows in single-pole representation a general circuit diagram;

FIGURES 11 to 14, which are to be regarded as being in continuation with one another, show the details of the electrical control of the circuit diagram of FIGURE 10, and

FIGURE shows diagrammatically, indetail, a de vice for moving the cutting burners, with the associated control.

1 denotes a frame, which is mounted rotationally fast upon a shaft 2. Moreover there is keyed upon the shaft 2 a chain wheel 3, by means of which, by a drive to be hereinafter described, the shaft 2 can be rotated, and the frame 1 thereby rocked. The shaft 2 is journalled in hearing pedestals 4. The frame 1 is provided with a number of freely rotatable rollers 5. .On its two .long sides-the frame 1 is provided with guiding rails 6. Between the guiding rails 6 run the rollers 7 of a shoe 8, which is transportable along the frame 1. The shoe 8.serves,.when the frame 1 is in a vertical position, for catching the casting section 9, for which purpose it is provided with a bearing surface or abutment 10, which, inserted in the shoe 8 and bounded against the force of thesprings 12 with bolts 11, is yieldingly fixed in the shoe 8, as shown in FIGURE 5. In the horizontal position in which the frame 1 is shown in FIGURE 1, the shoe 8 serves for pushing away the casting section 9 on to a further live-roller bed, in alignment with the roller bed formed by the rollers 5, but not shown. For transporting the shoe 8 along the frame 1, chains 13 and 13a are provided, which are connected with the shoe 8 by bars 14. The chain 13 meshes with the teeth 15a of a chain wheel 15, which is rotated through the medium of a chain 130 meshing with its ring of teeth 15b, by a drive to behereinafter described. By the chain wheels 16, 17 and 18, provided for the deflecting of the chains 13 and 13a, at least the two chain wheels 16, one of which meshes with the chain 13 and the other with the chain 13a, are connected rotationally fast with one another by way of the shaft 19, while the chain wheels 17 for example may be adjustably arranged for tightening the chains 13 and 13a.

In order to secure a particularly long casting section 9 in the vertical position of the frame 1 before the tilting, the frame 1 is provided with two pairs of clamps 20. The clamps 20, with their shanks 21, are inserted in holding arms 23 in such a way as to be displaceable against the force of springs 22. In case the'casting 35, when the frame 1 is being rocked into the vertical position, may already have emerged right into the neighbourhood of the clamps 20, the clamps are to yield to the castings 35, for which purpose they are provided with inclined surfaces 24. As the frame 1 rocks in, therefore, the clamps 20 are pushed asunder against the force of the springs 22. As soon as the clamps 20'have passed beyond the widest part of the casting 35, they move towards one another again under the force of the springs 22, so that the casting 35 is embraced by the clamps.

According to FIGURES 6 and 7, driving rollers 36, one of which can be driven through its shaft 136a, by a Ward-Leonard unit, notshown, bear on the casting 35. One of the drive rollers 36 drives through a shaft 37 a continuously adjustable gear 38. On the driven side the continuously adjustable gear 38 is connected through a shaft 39 with a copying or control mechanism 40, consisting of a cam disc 41 and a set of contacts 42. A burner carriage 43 is suspended from chains 44 and 45, which pass over chain wheels 46 to 53, and are-attached to a counterpoise 54. The chain wheels 46 and 52 are arranged keyed to a shaft 55, the chain wheels 48 and 50 to a shaft 56, and the chain wheels 47, 49,51 and 53, and also a chain wheel 57, to a shaft 58. On the burner carriage 43 are arranged burners 30 and 31. The burners 30 and 31 subdivide the casting 35 in a manner to be hereinafter further described. The counterpoise 54 actuates, with a set of contacts 60, a displaceable limit switch 59. The 'chain wheel 57 is connected by way of a chain 61 with the chain wheel 63, keyed to a shaft 62.

Upon one end of the shaft 62 is mounted a bevel wheel 64, and upon'the other end of theshaft '62 an intermediate gear 65, which by way of a shaft 66 with a brake 68, can be driven by a three-phase motor 67, for the purpose of driving the burner carriage 43. The bevel wheel 64 meshes with a further bevel wheel 69. The latter is keyed'to a shaft 70 with a copying or control mechanism 71, consisting of cam discs 72, 73, 74 and sets of contacts 75, 76 and 77. On the end of the shaft 70 is arranged an adjustable clutch 73, which couples the shaft 70to a shaft 79. A differential copying or control mechanism 80, with a pair of contact discs 81, 82, is arranged between the shaft 79 and a further shaft 88, carrying cam discs 83 and 84 with sets of contacts 85, 86 and 87, the contact disc 81 being according to FIGURE 6a lteyed to the shaft 79 and the contact disc 82 being keyed to a shaft 88, and the shaft 79 being adjustable relatively to the shaft 88 in a manner to be hereinafter further described. The contact discs 81 and 82, with the shafts 79 and 88, are in oppositely directed rotation to one another as a result of which, according to the position of the contact discs 81 and 8.2 relatively to one another, the set of contacts allocated to these is opened or closed, and thus the point of reversal for the direction of motion of the shoe 8, when the latter is carried towards the casting 35, is determined.

On the lower end of the shaft 88 is mounted a bevel wheel 89, which meshes with a further bevel wheel 90, on a shaft 91. To the shaft 91 is keyed a chain wheel 92, which is connected by way of a chain 93 with a further chain wheel 94 on a shaft 95. Upon the shaft 95 are also arranged a brake 96 and a chain Wheel 97.

A shaft 100 and a hollow shaft 101 are so arranged as to be rotatable in opposite directions to one another. Upon the hollow shaft 101 is keyed a toothed wheel 102, which meshes with a toothed wheel 103. The toothed wheel 103 and a bevel wheel 104 are keyed to a shaft 105. The bevel wheel 104 meshes with a bevel wheel 106, which is keyed to a shaft 107. The shaft 107 is connected by a clutch 108 with a shaft 109 of a threephase motor 110. The toothed wheels 102 and 103 and the bevel wheels 104 and 106 are assembled in a gear ,box 111. Upon one end of the shaft 109 a clutch disc v 113 is so arranged as to be rotationally fast but axially movable. Upon the hollow shaft 101 is keyed an electromagnet 114, with a magnet coil 115, while upon a shaft 116 is keyed an electro-magnet 117, with a magnet coil 118.

Upon the shaft 116 is arranged a toothed wheel 119, which meshes with a toothed wheel 120 on a shaft 121. .The toothed wheels 119 and 120 are assembled in a gear box 125. The shaft 121 is coupled by way of a clutch 122 with the shaft 123 of a direct-current motor 124. The clutch disc 113 can be selectively coupled with the .electro-magnet 114 or 11.7 by switching on the magnet coil or 118 respectively, as a result of which power istransmitted to the shaft 100 either from the threephase motor 110 through the shafts 109 and 107, the bevel wheels 106 and 104, the toothed wheels 102 and .103 and the hollow shaft 101, or else from the directcurrent motor 124 through the shafts 123 and 121, the toothed wheels and 11.9 and the shaft 116.

The chain wheel 97 meshes by way of a chain with the teeth 15b of the chain wheel 15, which is so mounted as to be rotationally movable upon the shaft 2. By way of the chains 13 and 13a, with the chain wheels 16, 17 and 18, the shoe 8 is moved. Upon thc shaft 2 are keyed the chain wheel 3 and a toothed wheel 131, of which the chain wheel 3 meshes by way of a ch'ain132 with a chain wheel 133. The chain wheel .133 is mounted upon a shaft 129 with a toothed wheel 134, which meshes with a further toothed wheel on a shaft 136. The toothed wheels 134 and 135 are assembled,v in a casing 137. Upon the shaft 136 is arranged .a brake. .138, and .a clutch 139. connects the shaft 136.

with a shaft 140 of a three-phase motor 141. The three-' phase motor 141 executes the tilting movement of the frame 1 about the shaft 2. The toothed wheel131'on the shaft 2 meshes with a toothed wheel 142, which is arranged upon a shaft 143. A clutch 144 connects the shaft 143 with a shaft 145, upon which is arranged a copying mechanism 146, with cam discs 147 and 148 and sets of contacts 149 and 150.

The adjustable clutch 78, which connects the shafts 70 and 79 with one another, is illustrated in its details in FIGURES 9a and 9b. It consists of a disc 155, which is keyed to the shaft 79, and a disc 156, which is rotatable upon a sleeve 157. The sleeve 157 is keyed to the shaft 70. The discs 155 and 156 are rigidly connected with one another by screws 158. Upon the sleeve 157 is keyed a worm wheel 160, which meshes with a self-locking or irreversible worm 161, which is supported upon the disc 156 on a shaft 164 journalled in bearings 162 and 163. To the worm wheel 160 is secured a pointer 165, which indicates the angle of adjustment of the shaft 70 in relation to the shaft 79.

According to FIGURE 10, to a three-phase network 170 are connected leads 171 to 176, and to a direct-current network, leads 178 to 180. The lead 171 connects the drive of the burner carriage 43, the three-phase motor 67, through branch circuits 171a and 171b, with the network 170. In the branches 171a and 171b there are working contacts (closed-circuit contacts) 329d and 331d of stator protective relays 329 and 331, Which determine the direction of rotation of the three-phase motor 67. A rotor resistance 181 can be switched by way of a conductor 182 and a working contact 339a of a rotor relay 339.

The lead 172, by way of a working contact 333d of a stator relay 333, connects a three-phase motor 183 of the brake 68 with the network 170. The brake 68 is mounted upon the shaft 66 of the motor 67.

The lead 174, by Way of a working contact 361b of a stator relay 361, connects a three-phase motor 187 of the brake 96 acting upon the shaft 100 with the network 170.

The lead 173, by way of circuit branches 173a and 173b, connects the drive for the shoe 8, the three-phase motor 110, with the network 170. In the branch circuits 173a and 1731; there are working contacts 3590 and 3600 of stator relays 359 and 360, which determine the direction of rotation of the three-phase motor 110. A rotor resistance 184 can be switched by way of conductors 185 and i186 and working contacts 36Gb and 368a by rotor protective relays 366 and 368.

The lead 178, by way of circuit branches 178a and 178b and working contacts 345d and 3460 by protective relays 345 and 346, connects the coils 115 and 118 of the electro-magnets 114 and 117 with the network 177. The clutch disc 113 engages selectively with the electromagnet 114 or 117, and thereby couples the three-phase motor 110 or the direct-current motor124 with the shaft 100 to drive the shoe 8.

The lead 179 connects the further drive for the shoe 8, the direct-current motor 124, with the network 177.

The lead 175, by way of current branches 175a and 175b, connects the drive'for tilting the frame 1, the threephase motor 141, Withthb network 170. In the circuit branches 175a and 175b, there are working contacts 3740 and 3750 of stator protective relays 374 and 375, which determine the direction of rotation of the threephase motor 141. A rotor resistance 189 can be switched, through the medium of conductors 190 and 191 and working contacts 38% and 382a, by rotor protective relays 380 and 382.

The lead 176, by way of a working contact 376b of a stator protective relay 376, connects a three-phase motor 488 of the brake 138 with the network 170. The brake 138 and the motor 141 have, by way of the clutch 139, a common shaft 136, 140.

The lead 180, by way of a working contact 3370 of a 6 protective relay 337, connects a coil 192 of an electromagnet 193 with the network 170. The electro-magnet- 193 actuates a clamping cylinder, not shown, for clamping the burner carriage 43 to the continuous casting 35.

According to FIGURES 11, 12, 13 and 14, conductors 202 and 203 pass from the network conductors 200 and 201, by way of a manually actuated switch 204, to conductors 205 and 206. Between the conductors 205, 207 and 208 on the one hand and 206 on the other hand, there are lines of action 209 to 317 and 410 to 420, with thermo-contacts 318, 319 and 320, with auxiliary relays 325, 327, 328, 330, 332, 334, 335, 336, 340, 341, 343, 344, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 353, 354, 355, 357, 362, 363, 364, 369, 370, 371, 373, 377, 378, 383, 384, 385, 386, 421, 422, 423, with time-lag relays 326, 338, 342, 252, 356, 358, 365, 367, 372, 379, 381, with stator protective relays 329, 331, 333, 359,360, 361, 374, 375, 376, with protective relays 337, 345, 346, 424, 425, 426, with rotor protective relays 339, 366, 368, 380, 382, with lever switches 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, with push-button switches 394, 395, 396, 397, 399, with hooters 400 and 401, with brakewatchers 402, 403 and 404. i

The auxiliary relay 325 in the action line 209 has working contacts 325a in the action line 210, 325b in the action line 219, 3250 in the action line 232, and 325d in the action line 410. The time-lag relay 326 in the action line 210 has an open-circuit contact 326a in the action line 209. The auxiliary relay 327 in the action line 211 has an open-circuit contact 327b in the action line 214 and working contacts 327a in the action line 213, 3270 in the action line 220, and 327d in the action line 234. The auxiliary relay 328 in the action line 214 has an open-circuit contact 328d in the action line 211, and working contacts 328a in the action line 217, 328b in the action line 221, and 3280 in the action line 235. The stator protective relay 329 in the action line 215 has an open-circuit contact 329a in the action line 217, and Working contacts 32% in the action line 222, 3290 in the action line 226, and 329d in the branch circuit 171a in FIGURE 10. The auxiliary relay 330 in the action line 216 has a working contact 330a in the action line 234. The stator protective relay 331 in the action line 217 has an open-circuit contact 331a in the action line 215, and working contacts 331b in the action line 223, 3310 in the action line 229, and 331d in the branch circuit 171b in FIGURE 10. The auxiliary relay 332 in the action line 218 has a working contact 332a in the action line 235. The stator protective relay 333 in the action line 219 has working contacts 333:: in the action line 224, 33% in the action line 232, 3330 in the action line 215, and 333d in the lead 172 in FIGURE 10. The auxiliary relay 334 in the action line 225 has an open-circuit contact 334a in the action line 213. The auxiliary relay 335 in the action line 226 has working contacts 335a in the action line 227, and 33511 in the action line 218. The auxiliary relay 336 in the action line 229 has a working contact 336a in the action line 228, and a working contact 33611 in the action line 216. The protective relay 337 in the action line 231 has Working contacts 337a in the action line 233, 337b in the action line 224, and 3370 in the lead in FIG- URE 10. The time-lag relay 338 in the action line 234 has a Working contact 338a in the action line 235. The rotor protective relay 339 in the action line 235 has a. working contact 339a in the lead 182 in FIGURE 10. The auxiliary relay 340 in the action line 236 has opencircuit contacts 340a in the action line 217, and 34012 in the action line 231. An auxiliary relay 341 in the action line 237 has an open-circuit contact 3410 in the action line 233, and working contacts 341a in the action line 238, 341b in the action line 212, and 341d in the action line 244. The time-lag relay 342 in the action line 238 has a working contact 342a in the action line 237. The auxiliary relay 343 in the action line 239 has an opencircuit contact 343d in the action line 257, and working contacts 343a in the action line 241, 34311 in the action 7 line 243, and 3430 in the action line 259. The auxiliary relay 344 in the action line 241 has an open-circuit contact 344a in the action line 244. The protective relay 345 in the action line 242 has an open-circuit contact 34512 in the action line 247, and working contacts 345a in the action line 245, 3450 in the action line 294, and 345d in the branch circuit 178a in FIGURE 10. The protective relay 346 in the action line 247 has working contacts 346a in the action line 252, 34612 in the action line 275, 3460 in the branch circuit 178b in FIGURE 10, and an open-circuit contact 346d in the action line 415. The auxiliary relay 347 in the action line 248 has opencircuit contacts 347a in the action line 247, 347d in the action line 254, and working contacts 347b in the action line 263, 3470 in the action line 265, and 3470 in the action line 291. The auxiliary relay 348 in the action line 249 has an open-circuit contact 348b in the action line 258, and working contacts 348a in the action line 256, and 3480 in the action line 289. The auxiliary relay 349 in the action line 250 has open-circuit contacts 349a in the action line 246, 3490 in the action line 282, and 3490 in the action line 288, and working contacts 34% in the action line 265, and 349d in the action line 291. The auxiliary relay 350 in the action line 251 has an open-circuit contact 350d in the action line 285, and working contacts 350a in the action line 256, 3501) in the action line 263, and 3500 in the action line 289. The auxiliary relay 351 in the action line 252 has an opencircuit contact 35117 in the action line 260, and working contacts 3510 in the action line 253, 3510 in the action line 255, and 351d in the action line 253. The time-lag relay 352 in the action line 253 has an open-circuit contact 352a in the action line 252. The auxiliary relay 353 in, the action line 254 has an open-circuit contact 353b in the action line 258, and working contacts 353a in the action line 257, 3530 in the action line 267, 353d in the action line 271, 353a in the action line 277, and 353 in the action line 281. The auxiliary relay 354 in the action line. 258 has an open-circuit contact 354a in the action line 254, and working contacts 35% in the action line 260, 3540 in the action line 269, 354d in the action line 272, 354ein the action line 280, and 354 in the action line 282. The auxiliary relay 355 in the action line 263 has working contacts 355a in the action line 264, and 355b. in the action line 261. The time-lag relay 356 in the. action line 264- has an open-circuit contact 356a in the action line 263. The auxiliary relay 357 in the action line 265 has working contacts 35711 in the action line 266, and 357b in the action line 262. The time-lag relay 258 in the action line 266 has an open-circuit contact 358a in. the action line 265. The stator protective relay 359 in the action line 267 has an open-circuit contact 359a intheaction line 269, and working contacts 35% in the action line 281, and 3590 in the branch circuit 173a in FIGURE 10. The stator protective relay 360 in the action line 269-has an open-circuit contact 360:: in the action line 267, and working contacts 360b in the action line 282, and 3600 in the branch circuit 173b in FIGURE 10. The stator protective relay 361 in the action line 271 has working contacts 36111 in the action line 267, and 3611) in the lead 174 in FIGURE 10. The auxiliary relay 362 in the action line 276 has open-circuit contacts 362ain the action line 212, 362k in the action line 232, 3620 in the action line 243, 362d in the action lineZSS, and.362e in the action line 259. The auxiliary relay 363 in. the action line 277 has working contacts 363a in the action line 278, 3631; in the action line 270, and 3630 in the action line 273. The auxiliary relay 364 in the action line. 280 has working contacts 364a in the action line 274, 36412 in the action line 268, and 3640 in the action line 279. The time-lag relay 365 in the action line 281 has. a working contact 365a in the action line 282. The rotor-protective relay 366 in theaction line 282 has working contacts366a in the action line 284, and366bin..the.lead 186iin FIGUREcIOt The time-lag relay-367 switch 426a in the action line 420.

in the action line 283 has a working contact 367a in the action line 284. The rotor protective relay 368 in the action line 284 has a working contact 368a in the lead in FIGURE 10. The auxiliary relay 369 in the action line 285 has an open-circuit contact 46% in the action line 288, and working contact 369a in the action line 287, 3690 in the action line 295, 369d in the action line 299, 3690 in the action line 303, and 369f in the action line 307. The auxiliary relay 370 in the action line 288 has an open-circuit contact 370g in the action line 285, and working contacts 370a in the action line 290, 370b in the action line 293, 3700 in the action line 297, 370d in the action line 300, 3700 in the action line 306, and 370 in the action line 308. The auxiliary relay 371 in the action line 291 has working contacts 37 1a in the action line 292, and 371b in the action line 286. The time-lag relay 372 in the action line 292 has an open-circuit contact 3720 in the action line 291. The auxiliary relay 373 in the action line 293 has an open-circuit contact 373b in the action line 291, and working contacts 373a in the action line 294, and 3730 in the action line 265. The stator protective relay 374 in the action line 295 has an open-circuit contact 37411 in the action line 297, and working contacts 37412 in the action line 307, and 3740 in the branch circuit 175a in FIGURE 10. The stator protective relay '375 in the action line 297 has an opencircuit contact 375a in the action line 295, and working contacts 375b in the action line 308, and 3750 in the branch circuit 175!) in FIGURE 10. The stator protective relay 376 in the action line 299 has working contacts 376a in the action line 295, and 376b in the lead 176 in FIGURE 10. The auxiliary relay 377 in the action line 303 has working contacts 377a in the action line 304, 377b in the action line 301, and 3770 in the action line 298. The auxiliary relay 378 in the action line 306 has working-contacts 378a in the action line 305, 378b in the action line 302, and 3780 in the action line 296. The time-lag relay 379 in the action line 307 has a working contact 379a in the action line 308. The rotor protective relay 380 in the action line 308 has working contacts 380a in the action line 310, and 38% in the lead 191 in FIGURE 10. The time-lag relay 381 in the action line 309 has a working contact 381a in the action line 310. The rotor protective relay 382 in the action line 310 has a working contact 382a in the lead in FIG- URE 10. The auxiliary relay 383 in the action line 311 has a Working contact 383a in the action line 314. The auxiliary relay 384 in the action line 312 has a working contact 384a in the action line 315. The auxiliary relay 385 in the action line 313 has a working contact 385a in the action line 316. The auxiliary relay 386 in the action line 317 has open-circuit contacts 386a in the action line 289, and 386b in the action line 286. The auxiliary relay 421 in the action line 410 has working contacts 421a in the action line 41 1, and 421b in the action line 413. The auxiliary relay 422 in the action line 411 has a working contact 422a in the action line 412, and a working contact 422b in the action line 416. The auxiliary relay 423 in the action line 413 hasa working contact 423a in the action line 414, and a working contact 42312 in the action line 417. The-protective relay 424. in the action line 415 has a switch 424a in the action line 418. The protective relay 425 in the action line 416 has a switch 425a in the action line 419. The protective relay 426 in the action line 417 has a The limit switch 427 has a set of contacts 427a in the action line 415. The limit switch 428 has a set of contacts 428a in the action line 416, and a set of contacts 42% in the action line 412. The limit switch 429 has a set of contacts 429a in the action line 417, and a set of contacts 42917 in the action line 414.

The brake-watcher 402 has in the action line 227 a contact 402a, and in the action-line 228 a contact 402b; the-brake-watcher 403--has in theaction line 278 a'contact 403a, and in the action line 279 a contact403b; andthe brake-watcher 404 has in the'action line 304 a contact 404a, and in the action line 305 a contact 404b. In the action line 209 is arranged the set of contacts 42, which is actuated by the cam disc 41 of the copying mechanism 40. In the action line 215 is arranged the set of contacts 75, actuated by the cam disc 72, in the action line 230 the set of contacts 76, actuated by the cam disc 73, and in the action line 236 the set of contacts 77, actuated by the cam disc 74. The cam discs 72, 73 and 74 are arranged in the copying mechanism 71, and are mounted upon the shaft 70. In the action line 225 is arranged the set of contacts 60 of the limit switch 59. In the action line 237 is arranged the set of contacts 32a to be actuated by the limit switch 32. In the action line 245 is located the set of contacts 85, which is actuated by the contact discs 81 and 82 of the differential copying mechanism 80. In the, action line 248 is located the set of contacts 86, which is actuated by the cam disc 83, and in the action line 248 is located the set of contacts 87, which is actuated by the cam disc 84 of the difierential copying mechanism 80. In the action line 250 is located the set of contacts 149, which is actuated by the cam disc 148, and in the action line 251 the set of contacts 150, which is actuated by the cam disc 147 of the copying mechanism 146.

FIGURE 15 shows diagrammatically the control of the cutting appliance. The cutting burners 30 and 31 are secured, by the end remote from the burner aperture, to the burner carriage 43 (see FIGURE 6), and are rockable about pivots 435 and 436, for the purpose of dividing the continuous casting 35. To the cutting burners 30 and 31 are: pivoted piston rods 437 and 438, which are connected with pistons 441 and 442 arranged in cylinders 439 and 440. With the surfaces of the pistons 441 and 442 remote from the cutting burners 30 and 31 are connected switching rods 443 and 444, which are provided with abutments 445, 446, 447 and 449, to which are allocated limit switches 427, 428, 32 and 429, with sets of contacts 427a, 428a, 428b, 32a, 429a and 42%.

The piston 441 of the cylinder 439 can be supplied with motive fluid through pipes450 and451. The pipes 450v and 451 are connected with a double control slide valve 452. In the pipes 460 and 461 is interposed a slide valve 453. The double control slide valve 452 is movable out of the idle position against the returning force of the springs 454, by means of a magnet coil 432, andthe slide valve 453, against the returning force of the spring 455, by means of a magnet coil 430. The direction of movement of the piston 441 is dependent upon the position of the double control slide valve 452, and therefore upon the direction of flow of the pressure fluid in the pipes 450 and 451. In the pipe 461 is interposed a pump 456, which sucks the pressure liquid out of the tank 457. The return of the pressure liquid is eifected by way of the pipe 460 or 458. In the pipe 458, which branches off from the pipe 461 and leads to the tank 457, an excesspressure -valve 459 is interposed.

The piston 442 of the cylinder 440 can be supplied with motive fluid through pipes 465 and 466. The pipes 465 and 466 are connected with a double control slide valve 467, which is movable out of the idle position by means of a magnet coil 43 1, against the returning force of a spring 468. The direction of motion of the piston 442 is dependent upon the position of the double control slide valve 467, and therefore upon the direction of flow of the pressure medium in the pipes 465 and 466.

In the pipe 462 is interposed a pump 469, which sucks the pressure liquid out of the tank 457. The return of the pressure liquid is efiected through the pipe 463 or 470. In the pipe 470 is interposed an excess-pressure valve 471.

The plant operates in the following manner: The direct-current motor 124 is switched on by means of lever switches 188, and runs continuously, while the three-phase motors 67, 110 and 141 are switched on, but their direction of rotation is determined by the particular position of the sets of contacts 329d, 331d, 359s, 360e, 3740 and 3750 of the stator protective relays 329, 331, 359, 360, 374 and 375. The lever switches 390 in the action line 209, 391 in the action line 225, 393 with the set of contacts 393b in the action line 240, and 389 with the set of contacts 389a in the action line 207, and the switch 204 in conductors 202 and 203, are switched on. The casting 35 continuously issuing in a vertical direction between the drive rollers36 is to be divided into portions of definite length, which are then lowered and pushed oif on to a live-roller bed. One of the drive rollers 36, which, by means of the Ward-Leonard connection, not shown, is in parallel with the direct-current motor 124, is mounted upon the shaft 37 with a continuously adjustable gear 38. By Way of the shaft 39 the continuously adjustable gear 38 is connected with the cam disc 41 of the copying mechanism 40, and switches the set of contacts 42 allocated to the cam disc 41. The continuously adjustable gear 38 is from time to time adapted to the speed of revolution of the drive rollers '36, in such a way that the number of revolutions of the drive roller 36 corresponding to the desired length of the casting 35 corresponds to one revolution of the continuously adjustable gear 38 on the shaft 39, as a result of which the cam disc 41 executes one revolution, and closes and re-opens the set of contacts 42 in the action line 209. The impulse-switching in the action lines 209 and 210 is actuated by the attraction of the auxiliary relay 325 in the reaction line 209 and of the timelag relay 326 in the action line 210.

The brake 68 on the shaft 66 of the three-phase motor 67, which holds the burner carriage 43 firmly in its position, is released, in that the stator protective relay 333 in the action line 219 responds, owing to the closure of the working contact 325b of the auxiliary relay 325 in the action line 219, and closes the working contact 333d in the lead-172, and actuates the motor 183.

The working contacts 325c of the auxiliary relay 325, and 333b of the stator protective relay 333 in the action line 232, close, and the protective relay 337 in the action line 231 responds. The working contact 337C in the lead is thus closed, the magnet coil 182, and with it the electro-magnet 193, are switched on. The electro-magnet 193 actuates a valve 194, by way of which a hydraulic clamping appliance, not shown, clamps the burner carriage 43 to the casting 35. The burner carriage 43 then descends with the speed of the continuous casting.

With the responding of the impulse-switching in the action lines 209 and 210, whereby amongst other things the clamping of the burner carriage 43 to the casting 35 is elfected, the auxiliary relay 325 attracts, and receives self-holding by way of the working contact'325a in the action line 210. The working contact 325d in the action line 410 closes, and the auxiliary relay 421 in the action line 410 responds, as a result of which the working contacts 421a in the action line 411 and 42112 in the action line 413 close, and the auxiliary relays 422 in the action line 411 and 423 in the action line 412 are attracted. The auxiliary relays 422 and 423 receive self-holding by way of the working contacts 422a in the action line 412 and 423a in the action line 414. By closing the working contact 4221) in the action line 416, the protective relay 425 in the action line 416 responds, and the switch 425a in the action line 419 closes. The magnet coil 432 is thereby excited, and the double control slide valve 452 is moved against the force of the spring 454 into the position represented in FIGURE 14, so that the pressure fluid sucked out of the tank 457 by the pump 456 acts, from the pipe 461, by way of the slide valve 453, which, under the action of the spring 455 is in its idle position, that is to say, its transmitting position, and by way of the double control slide valve 452, which is in its crosswise position, through the pipe 451, upon the piston 441 in the cylinder 439, in such a way that the piston rod 437 moves the cutting burner 30 around the pivot 435 against the casting 35, I

and thus initiates the cut from one side of the casting 35. The return of the pressure liquid is eifected through the pipes 450 and 460.

Simultaneously with the protective relay 425 in the action line 416, the protective relay 426 in the action line 417 responds, after the closing of the working contact 423b. The switch 426a in the action line 420 closes, and the magnet coil 431 is excited and moves the double control slide valve 467 against the force of the spring 468 into the position shown in FIGURE 14, as a result of which the pressure fluid sucked by the pump 469 out of the tank 457 acts from the pipe 462, by way of the double control slide valve 467 in the crosswise position, through the pipe 466, upon the piston 442 of the cylinder 440, in such a way that the piston rod 438 moves the cutting burner 31 around the pivot 436 against the casting 35, and thus initiates the cut from the other side of the casting 35 also. The return of the pressure liquid is effected through the pipes 465 and 463.

Meanwhile the auxiliary relay 421 in the action line 410 has fallen off, owing to the opening of the working contact 325d, since the self-holding of the auxiliary relay 325 in the action line 209 has been interrupted by the opening of the open-circuit contact 326a in the same action line under the action of the time-lag relay 326 in the action line 210. The working contacts 421a in the action 411 and 421b in the action line 413 therefore open.

The piston 442 of the cylinder 440 moves the cutting burner 31 in the cutting direction along the casting 35 until the abutment 449 opens the set of contacts 429a in the action line 417 and the set of contacts 42% in the action line 414 of the limit switch 429. The protective relay 426 in the action line 417 falls off, and the selfholding of the auxiliary relay 423 in the action line 413 is interrupted. The switch 426a in the action line 420 opens, and the magnet coil 431 becomes de-energised, so that the double control slide valve 467 is pulled by the force of the spring 468 into the idle position, as a result of which the piston 442 is acted upon by the pressure fluid in the opposite direction through the pipes 462 and 465, and by means of the piston rod 438 moves the cutting burner 31 back into the initial position, the return of the pressure fluid being effected through the pipes 466 and 463. When the piston 442 has reached the initial position, the pressure fluid is returned to the tank 457 by way of the excess-pressure valve 471 located in the pipe 470. The cutting burner 31 thus stands ready for the next partial cut.

Meanwhile the piston 441, by means of the piston rod 437 has moved the cutting burner in the cutting direction so far along the casting that the abutment 445 closes the set of contacts 427a in the action line 415 of the limit switch 427. The protective relay 424 in the action line 415 responds, and'the switch 424a in the action line 418 closes, as a result of which the magnet coil 430 is excited, and the slide valve 453 is moved against the force of the spring 455 into the closed position. The advancing movement of the cutting burner 30 is thus interrupted, owing to the shutting-off of the pressure fluid supplying the piston 441 through the pipe 451, until the idle contact 346d in the action line 415 opens, which is the case when the shoe 8 has passed beneath the end of the casting 35 and supports the latter. By the opening of the idle contact 346d the protective relay 424 in the action line 415 falls off, the switch 424a in the action line 418 is opened, and the magnet coil 430 becomes de-energised. The slide valve 453 is therefore moved back into the idle position by the spring 455, the flow of pressure fluid is set free again by the movement of the slide valve 453 into the open position, whereupon the piston 441, by means of the piston rod 437, advances the cutting burner 30 right to the complete separation of the casting 35. Then by the abutment 446 the sets of contacts 428a in'the action line 416 and 42811 in the action line 412 of the limit switch 42S are opened, asa result of whichthe protective relay 425 in the action line 416 falls off, and the self-holding of the auxiliary relay 422 in the action line 411 is interrupted. Thus the switch 425a in the action line 419 opens, and the magnet coil 432 becomes de-energised. By the force of the spring 454 the double control slide valve 452 is moved into the idle position, and the piston 441 is acted upon in the opposite direction by the pressure fluid through the pipes 461 and 450. The cutting burner 30 is moved back by the piston rod 437 into the initial position, the return of the pressure fluid being effected through the pipes 451 and 460. When the piston 441 has reached the initial position, the pressure fluid flows back into the tank 457 through the excess-pressure valve 459 in the pipe 458. The cutting burner 30 thus likewise stands ready for the next partial cut.

By the cutting burners 30 and 31 illustrated in the constructional example, with the advancing movement of the cutting burner 30 after the termination of the cut the limit switch 32 is actuated by the abutment 447 arranged on the switching rod 443, as a result of which the set of contacts 32a in the action line 237 is closed, and the impulse-switching in the action line 237 and 238 is actuated by attraction of the auxiliary relay 341 in the action line 237 and of the time-lag relay 342 in the action line 238. Owing to the fact that the cutting path of the cutting burner 30 is greater than that of the cutting burner 31, and the termination of the cut is further delayed, it may be, by the interruption of the forward movement of the cutting burner 30, until the shoe 8 supports the end of the casting 35, it is ensured that the proceeding with the next switching operation is not effected until the casting 35 is severed. The cutter carriage 43 is now released by the casting 35, in that the self-holding of the protective relay 337 in the action line 231 is interrupted by way of the idle contact 3410 in the action line 233. The working contact 337c in the lead is opened, and the magnet coil 192 of the electro-magnet 193 is de-energised.

The brake 68 of the burner carriage 43 bears against the shaft 66, after the self-holding of the stator protective relay 333 in the action line 219 is interrupted by the opening of the working contact 337b of the protective relay 337 in the action line 224.

With a time lag relatively to the opening of the opencircuit contact 341c in the action line 233, the working contact 34111 in the action line 212 is closed, whereby the auxiliary relay 327 responds and receives self-holding through its working contact 327a and the open-circuit contact 334a in the action' line 213. Thus the wo king contact 327:: in the action line 220 is closed, and the Hence, by the stator protective relay 333 responds. working contact 333d in the lead 172, the motor 183 is switched on, and the'brake 68 on the shaft 66 is released again. By closing the working contacts 333a and 327]) in the action line 215, the stator protective relay 329 and the auxiliary relay 330 respond. Thus in the branch 171m of the lead 171 the working contact 329d is'elosed, and the three-phase motor 67 starts running. The burner carriage 43 is therefore moved into the initial position. Shortly before the burner carriage 43 reaches its initial position, the limit switch 59 is actuated by the counterpoise 54, and the set of contacts 60 in the action line 255 is closed, so that by way of the closed lever switch 391 the auxiliary relay 334 in the action line 225 responds, as a result of which, in a known manner, the motor 67 is at first braked by counter-current by means of the brake-watcher 402, until the brake 68 drops in on to the shaft 66, and the burner carriage 43 is firmly located in its initial position. The cutting plant is thus ready for the next cut.

Even before the casting 35 has been divided by the burners 30 and 31, the shoe 8 is carried upwards upon the vertically standing frame 1, until it has engaged underneath the casting 35 (compare the open-circuit contact 346d in the action line 415). As soon as the shoe 8 'has engaged beneath the casting 35, it is lowered in parallel with the latter by the direct-current motor 124. The switching operations pertaining thereto Will be explained later on. The completed severing cut of the burners 30 and 31 is indicated, as already mentioned, by the abutment 447 on the switching rod 443 of the piston 441 moving the burner 30, as a result of which the set of contacts 32a in the action line 237 of the limit switch 32 is closed, and the impulse-switching, consisting of the auxiliary relay 341 in the action line 237 and the time-lag relay 342 in the action line 238, responds. The driving mechanism of the shoe 8 is thereby released from the direct-current motor 124 by means of the electromagnetic change-over clutch 113, 114, 117 and is connected with the three-phase motor 110, for the working contact 341d in the action line 244 closes, and the protective relay 345 in the action line 242 responds, the open-circuit contact 345b in the action line 247 opens, and thereby allows the protective relay 346 in the action line 247 to drop oif, whereby the working contact 3460 in'the lead 17% opens, and the magnet coil 118 is de-encrgised, while the working contact 345d in the lead 178a closes, and the coil 115 is excited. Thus the clutch disc 113 is released by the electro-magnet 117, and connected with the electro-magnet 114. The shoe 8 is lowered with acceleration by the three-phase motor 110. The protective relay 345 in the action line 242 holds itself by way of the working contact 345a and the set of contacts 85 of the contact discs 81 and 82 of the differential copying mechanism 80 in the action line 245. The auxiliary relay 353, which, with the excitation of the coil 118 by the closing of the working contact 3460 in the lead 178b, has responded for the purpose of connecting the direct-current motor 124 with the driving mechanism of the shoe 8 by way of the working contact 346a and the auxiliary relay 351 in the action line 252, as well as the working contact 3510 in the action line 255, finds itself still in the self-holding condition, by its working contact 353a in the action line 257. When the shoe 8 has almost reached its lowest position, the copying mechanism 80 closes its set of contacts 86, and the auxiliary relay 347 in the action line 248 attracts. The self-holding of the auxiliary relay 353 in the action line 254 is interrupted by the opening of the open-circuit contact 347d. With the falling-01f of the auxiliary relay 353 the threephase motor 110 is switched ofi, and by means of the brake-watcher 403 is braked by counter-current, whereupon the brake 96 fixes the shoe in the lower position.

In order that the auxiliary relay 347 may attract owing to the closing of the set of contacts 86 in the action line 248 when the shoe 8 reaches its lowest position, the working contact 347e in the action'line 291 is also closed. The working contact 349d, likewise in the action line 291, is closed, since in the action line 250 the working contact 149 of the copying mechanism 146 is closed by the cam disc 148 when the frame 1 is standing vertically. The impulse-switching, consisting of the auxiliary rela-y 371 in the action line 291 and the timelag relay 372 in the action line 292, responds. The working contact 371b in the action line 286 allows the auxiliary relay 369 in the action line 285 to attract. The auxiliary relay 369 in the action line 285 receives self-holding by way of its working contact 369a in the action line 287. By the closing of the working contact 369d in the action line 299 the stator protective relay 376 attracts, and the working contact 37612 in the lead 176 switches on the motor 188, which releases the brake 138. At the same time the working contact 37612. in the action line 295 closes, since the working contact 3690 was already closed, and the stator protective relay 374 attracts. Thus the working contact 3740 in the branch 175a of the lead 175 is closed, and the motor 141 causes the tilting of the frame 1 into a horizontal position. In the horizontal position, the copying mechanism 146, through the cam disc 147, closes the set of Gontacts 150 in the action line 251. The auxiliary relay 350 in the action line 251 attracts, and opens in' the action line 285 the open-circuit contact 350d, as a result of which the self-holding of the auxiliary relay 369 in the action line 285 is interrupted by way of the Working contact 369a in the action line 287. The tilting drive, namely the three-phase motor 141, is braked by counter-current by means of the brake-watcher 404, and the brake 138, by the opening of the working contact 37612 in the lead 176, is applied to the shaft 136, and thus holds the frame 1 in its horizontal position.

The auxiliary relay 350 in the action line 251, which, as already mentioned, owing to the closing of the set of contacts 150 by the cam disc 147 of the copying'mechanism 146, attracts, closes the working contact 35015 in the action line 263. The working contact 347b, which is likewise in the action line 263, is already closed, since the shoe 8 is in its lower position, in which the set of contacts 86 was closed by the cam disc 83 of the copying mechanism 80, and'the auxiliary relay 347 in the action line 248 attracts. The impulse-switching, consisting of the auxiliary relay 355 in the action line 263 and the time-lag relay 356 in the action line 264, therefore "responds. Thus the working contact 3551: in the action line 261 is closed, and the auxiliary relay 354 in the action line 258 attracts. The working contact 354d in the action line 272 allows the stator protective relay 361 in the action line 271 to attract, as a result of which the working contact 361b in the lead 174 is closed, and the motor 187 releases the brake 96. Simultaneously with this the working contact 361a in the action line 267 is closed, and the stator protective relay 360 attracts, by way of the already closed working contact 354c in the action line 269. The three-phase motor 110 is thereby switched, by way of the working contact 360a located in the branch 173b of the lead 173, as a result of which the shoe 8 pushes away the casting section from the frame 1.

In the end position the copying mechanism closes, by Way of the cam disc 84, the set of contacts 87 in the action line 249, and the auxiliary relay 348 attracts. 'The open-circuit contact 34811 in the action line 258 thereby interrupts the self-holding of the auxiliary relay 354 in the action line 258. With the dropping-off of the auxiliary relay 354 the motor is braked by counter-current by means of the brake-watcher 403, and the brake 96 falls in upon the shaft 100, and firmly fixes the shoe 8. Fur thermore, with the attraction of the auxiliary re1ay348, the working contact 348a in the action line 256 is closed. The working contact 350a, located in the same action line, is already closed, since in the horizontal position of the frame 1 the cam disc 147 of the copying mechanism 146 keeps the set of contacts 150 in the action line 251 closed, so that auxiliary relay 350 in the action line 251 attracts. The auxiliary relay 353 in the action line 254 accordingly attracts. Thus on the one hand the work ing contact 353d in the action line 271 is closed, so that the stator protective relay 361 attracts, and the working contact 361b in the lead 172 is closed, so that the motor 187 releases the brake 96 on the shaft 100. On the other hand, by way of the already closed working contacts 361a and 3530 in the action line 267, the stator protec'tiv'e relay 359 is attracted, whereby the working contact 3590 in the branch 173a of the lead 173 is closed, and the motor 110 is started, so that the shoe 8 travels back upon the frame 1. The auxiliary relay 353 meanwhile has self-holding, by way of its working contact 353a in the action line 257.

Apart from the fact that by the cam disc 84 of the copying mechanism 80 the shoe 8, running in the pushingaw-ay direction, as previously described, is braked, and

its direction of motion has been reversed, the rocking of the frame 1 from the horizontal position to the vertical is also initiated by the copying mechanism 80; for owing to the fact that by way of the cam disc 84 of the copying. mechanism 80 the set of contacts 87 in the action line 249 has been closed,- andtherelay 348 has attracted, the working contact 3480 in the action line 289 is also closed. Since moreover the working contact 350c located in the same action line is closed so long as the frame 1 is in a horizontal position, whereby the cam disc 147 of the copying mechanism 146 keeps the set of contacts 150 in the action line 251 closed, and the auxiliary relay 358 attracts, the auxiliary relay 370 in the action line 288 is attracted, and acquires self-holding by way of its working contact 370a in the action line 290. By this means the working contact 370d in the action line 300 is closed, the stator protective relay 376 in the action line 299 attracts, the working contact 376b in the lead 176 closes, and the motor 188 releases the brake 138. Furthermore the working contact 376a in the action line 295 is closed, and the stator protective relay 375 in the action line 297 attracts, by way of the already closed working contact 3700. By the closing of the working contact 3750 locatedin the branch circuit 175b of the lead 175, the motor 141 is switched, and rocks the frame 1 out of the horizontal position into the vertical position.

When the frame 1 has approximately reached its vertical position, the set of contacts 149 of the copying mechanism 146, located in the action line 250, is closed by the cam disc 148, and the auxiliary relay 349 attracts. Thus the open-circuit 349:: in the action line 288 is opened, and the auxiliary relay 370 loses its self-holding. With the dropping off of the auxiliary relay 370 the motor 141 is braked by counter-current by means of the brake-watcher 404, and the brake 138 drops in and fixes the frame 1 in its vertical position.

Meanwhile the frame 1 is rocked into its vertical position, and the shoe 8 travels back, as already described. The self-holding of the auxiliary relay 353 in the action line 254 is interrupted, since the returning shoe 8, by way of the copying mechanism 80, by means of the cam disc 83, closes the set of contacts 86 in the action line 248, so that the auxiliary relay 347 attracts, and opens the open-circuit contact 347d in the action line 254. With the dropping-off of the auxiliary relay 353 the motor 110 is again braked by counter-current by means of the brake-watcher 403, and the brake 96 drops in on the shaft 100 and fixes the shoe 8 firmly.

In the action line 265 the working contact 347s closes when the shoe 8 has travelled back, and thereby, as previously described, the auxiliary relay 347 in the action line 248 has attracted. The working contact 34%, also located in'the action line 265, closes when the frame 1 has passed into the vertical position, and thereby, as has likewise already been described, the auxiliary relay 349 in the action line 250' has attracted. Also the working contact 373:: in the action line 265 is still closed, since theauxiliary relay 373 in the action line 293 attracts, by Way of its working contact 373a in the action line 294 and the working contact 3450, which is kept closed by the auxiliary relay 345 in the action line 242 by way of the set of contacts 85 of the differential copying mechanism 80. Thus the impulse-switching, consisting of the auxiliary relay 357 in the action line 265 and the timelag relay 358 in the action line 266, responds. By the closing of the working contact 357b in the action line 262 the auxiliary relay 354 in the action line 258 attracts. By'way of the working contact 354d in the action line 272, the stator protective relay 361 attracts, and switches, by way of its working contact 361b in the lead 174, the motor 187, which lifts the brake 96 off the shaft 108. At the same time the stator protective relay 360 attracts, by way of the closed working contact 3540 in the action line 269 and the likewise closed working contact 361a in the action line 267. The working contact 360c in the branch 1731) of the lead 173 is closed, and the motor 110 moves the shoe 8 upwards against the casting 35.

Simultaneously with the switching-on of the motor 118, in the action line 282 the working'contacts 354i and 36% are closed, whereby the time-lag relay 365 in the action line 281, after reaching the responsive delay, attracts, and closes the working contact 365a in the action line 282, as a result of which the rotor protective relay 366 attracts immediately, and the time-lag relay 367 in the action line 283 attracts after reaching its response delay. By the closing of the working contacts 366a and 367a the further rotor protective relay 368 in the action line 284 attracts. By way of the successively closed working contacts 366b in the conductor 186 and 368a in the conductor 185, the rotor resistance 184 is switched on stepwise, so that with the diminution in the speed of revolution of the three-phase motor 110 the speed of the shoe 8 falls before the latter touches the casting 35. As soon as the shoe 8 has approximately reached the lower end of the casting 35, the diiferential copying mechanism 80, through which the driving mechanism of the burner carriage 43 and the driving mechanism of the shoe 8 are connected with one another in a manner already described, becomes operative, in that the contact discs 81 and 82, which determine the point of reversal of the shoe 8, and which revolve in opposite directions, open the set of contacts 85 allocated to them.

The point at which the shoe 8 is reversed out of the movement in a direction opposite to that of the casting 35 into the movement in the direction of the casting can be modified by the position of the contact discs 81 and 82 relative to one another, by means of the adjustable clutch 78 arranged between the differential copying mechanism 80 and the copying mechanism 71. The point of reversal can thus be adapted to the length of the casting sections 9 of any programme.

By the opening of the set of contacts in the action line 245 by means of the contact discs 81 and 82 of the differential copying mechanism 80, the protective relay 345 in the action line 242 loses its self-holding, and the protective relay 346 in the action line 242 attracts, that is to say, the clutch disc 113 releases by the opening of the working contact 345d in the branch circuit 178a by the electro-magnet 114, and is attracted by the electromagnet 117 by the closing of the working contact 3461: in the branch circuit 17812. Thus the direct-current motor 124 is coupled to the driving mechanism of the shoe 8, and the shoe 8 is lowered in parallel with the casting 35. The lower end of the casting 35 is supported by the shoe 8, so that any tearing of the cut is obviated. As soon as the cut is terminated, the shoe 8 prevents the casting section 9 dropping.

Upon uncoupling the driving mechanism of the shoe 8 from the three-phase motor and coupling it to the direct-current motor 124 by means of an electro-magnetic change-over clutch 113, 114, 117, the working contact 346a closes in the action line 252, and the impulse-switching in the action line 252 and 253 is actuated by the attraction of the auxiliary relay 351 in the action line 252 and of the time-lag relay 352 in the action line 253. The open-circuit contact 351b in the action line 260 interrupts the self-holding of the auxiliary relay 354 in the action line 258, and switches on, by way of its working contact 3510 in the action line 255, the auxiliary relay 353. The direction of rotation of the three-phase motor 110 is reversed. The tilting stool stands ready for a fresh cycle of operations.

When the shoe 8 reaches its uppermost end position, before it meets with the descending casting 35, in the action line 358 the self-holding of the auxiliary relay 354 is interrupted by the open-circuit contact 348b, since in the action line 249, by the closing of the contact 87 by the cam disc 84 of the differential copying mechanism 80, the auxiliary relay 348 attracted. The shoe 8 is braked by counter-current by means of the brake-watcher 403, and is held in this position by the brake 96. As soon as the casting 35 reaches the shoe 8, the differential copying mechanism 80, by way of the contact discs 81 and 82, opens the set of contacts 85 in the action line 245. The changing of the coupling of the driving mechanism of the shoe 8 from the three-phase motor 110 to the "directcurrent motor 124 follows in the manner alreadydescribed.

Instead of the automatic control hereihbefore described, the controlof the individual movements may alternatively be effected by hand. For this purpose the lever switch 389 is so arranged that its set of contacts 389a in the action line 207 is opened and its set of contracts 38% in the action line208 is closed. 'By .actuating the push-button switch 394 in the action line2 11, orthe push-button switch 395 in the action line 214, the burner carriage 43 can be moved downwards or up Wards. By actuating the push-button switch 397 in the action line 258 the shoe 8 can be moved upwards. By actuating the push-button switch 398 in the action line 285 or the push-button switch 399 in the action line 288 the frame 1 can be tilted into the horizontal or into the vertical position; and by actuating the lever switch 392 in the action line 231 the burner carriage 43 can be clamped to the casting 35. The actuating of the drives of the plant by hand is requisite for example upon the introduction of the cold casting. For this purpose an additional copying mechanism 71 is provided, which, with its set of contacts 75 in the action line 215 allocated to the cam disc 72 limits the position of the burner carriage 43 in an upward direction, and with the set of contacts 77 in the action line 236 allocated to the cam disc 74 limits the position of the burner carriage 43 in a downward direction. When the set of contacts 75 in the action line 215 opens, the drive of the burner carriage 43, namely the three-phase motor 47, is switched off, and the burner carriage 43, by application of the brake 68 to the shaft 66, is held in its position. When the set of contacts 77 in the action line 236 closes, the burner carriage 43, by the switchingolf of the magnet coil 192, and therefore of the electromagnet 193, is released from the casting 35, since the open-circuit oontact 340k in the action line 231 interrupts the self-holding of the protective relay 337. The copying mechanism 71 is moreover provided with a cam disc 73, with which it actuates, by way of the set of contacts 76 in the action line 230, the hooter 400, if the burner carriage 43 has travelled too far downwards.

The thermo-c'ontacts 318, 319, 320 in the action lines 311, 312, 313 switch auxiliary relays 383, 384, 385, the contacts 383a, 384a and 385a of which, in the action lines 314, 315, 316, upon the permissible heating being exceeded at the motors 67, 110 and 141, actuate the hooter 401 in the action line 314.

We claim:

1. Continuous vertical casting plant including a tiltable frame, a shoe slidable along the tiltable frame and adapted to receive the leading end of the continuous casting, the slidable shoe being tiltable, with the frame, from a vertical into a horizontal position, means for severing successive sections of the continuous casting, driving means capable of initially imparting to the sliding shoe a speed of descent equal to the speed of descent of the continuous casting, and of subsequently imparting to the shoe a higher speed of descent, a driving shaft 100 for raising and lowering the sliding shoe, a shaft 88 operatively connected with the said driving shaft, the means for severing the continuous casting including a burner carriage 43 having burners thereon 30, 31, a burner-carriage driving shaft 62 for raising and lowering the burner carriage, shafting 70, 79 operatively connected with the burner-carriage driving shaft, a differential control mechanism 80 arranged between the shaft 88 operatively connected with the sliding-shoe driving shaft and the shafting 70, 79 operatively connected with the burner-carriage driving shaft, said control mechanism having two contact discs, 81 and 82 each being mounted upon the end of one of the two shafts 79, 88 between which the contnol mechanism is arranged, and a set of contacts 85 arranged between the contact discs 81, 82, means controlled by the contacts to interrupt 18 the ascent of the sliding shoe towards the casting as'soon as the leading end of the casting is supported by the shoe and to initiate the lowering movement of the shoe at the speed of descent of the casting.

2. Continuous casting plant as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: an angularly adjustable clutch 78 interposed in the shafting 7t), 79 operatively connected with 'the burner-carriage driving shaft, the adjustment of said clutch determining the point of reversal of motion of the shoe from ascent to descent.

3. Continuous vertical casting plant including a tiltable frame, 'a shoe slidable along the tiltable frame and adapted to receive the leading 'endof the continuous casting, the slidable shoe being tiltable, with the frame, from a vertical into a horizontal position, means for severing successive sections of the continuous casting, driving means capable of initiallly imparting to the sliding shoe a speed of descent equal to the speed of descent of the continuous casting, and of subsequently imparting to the shoe a higher speed of descent, motor means for lowering the shoe at a speed greater than the speed of descent of the casting, and electro-magnetic means 32, 113, 114 for coupling the shoe to the said motor means after the severing of the casting.

4. Continuous casting plant as claimed in claim 3, the motor means 110 being an electric motor, and the plant further comprising: means for varying the armature resistance 184 of the electric motor 110, and thereby varying the speed with which the shoe is moved towards the casting.

5. Continuous vertical casting plant including a tiltable frame, a shoe slidable along the tiltable frame and adapted to receive the leading end of the continuous casting, the slidable shoe being tiltable, with the frame, from a vertical into a horizontal position, means for severing successive sections of the continuous casting, driving means capable of initially imparting to the sliding shoe a speed of descent equal to the speed of descent of the continuous casting, and of subsequently imparting to the shoe a higher speed of descent, at least one pair of clamps 20 mounted on the tiltable frame 1 and adapted to embrace the casting, to yield relatively to the casting as the frame rocks towards the casting, and then to close behind the casting.

6. Continuous vertical casting plant including a tiltable frame, a shoe slidable along the tiltable frame and adapted to receive the leading end of the continuous casting, the slidable shoe being tiltable, with the frame, from a vertical into a horizontal position, means for severing successive sections of the continuous casting, driving means capable of initially imparting to the sliding shoe a speed of descent equal to the speed of descent of the continuous casting, and of subsequently imparting to the shoe a higher speed of descent, the means for severing the continuous casting including a burner carriage 43 having a plurality of burners mounted thereon 30, 31, and the plant further comprising: a cylinder 439 and a piston 441 slidable therein, said piston being operatively connected with one of the burners on the burner carriage 43, a pipe 451 supplying motive fiuid to the said cylinder, a locking slide valve 453 capable of closing the supply pipe and thereby limiting the movement of the said burner, and an electrical contact 346d adapted to be released by engagement of the shoe with the leading end of the casting, and thereby releasing the locking slide valve and opening the pipe 451 to permit movement of the burner toward the casting to complete the severance of the casting.

7. Continuous vertical casting plant including a tiltable frame, a shoe slidable along the tiltable frame and adapted to receive the leading end of the continuous casting, the slidable shoe being tiltable, with the frame, from a vertical into a horizontal position, means for severing successive sections of the continuous casting, a separate drive mechanism for imparting sliding movement to the shoe at the same speed as the descending end of the casting upon impingement thereof on the shoe, means for controlling the drive mechanism upon severance of the casting to impart a higher speed to the sliding movement of the shoe and the severed casting section supported thereon, driven rollers bearing against the casting and operatively connected to the separate drive mechanism for causing it to impart sliding movement to the shoe at the same speed as the descending end of the casting, a differential control mechanism adjustable in accordance with the desired lengths of the casting sections and responsive on the one hand to the movement of the casting and on the other hand to the movement of the shoe, and means responsive to the control mechanism for selectively operating the separate drive mechanism to reverse the movement of the shoe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,163,967 Strawn et al June 27, 1939 2,264,287 Betterton et al Dec. 2, 1941 2,582,329 Harter et a1 Jan. 15, 1952 2,799,065 Whitaker July 16, 1957 2,806,263 Hogan Sept. 17, 1957 2,898,650 Fredricksson et a1 Aug. 11, 1959 

